Egg breaking and separating machine



Feb. 1s, 1936. w. G. YOUNG ET AL 2,031,294

EGG BREAKING AND SEPARATING MACHINE Filed May 2, 1930 l1 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb.'1s,r193s.f wegvoun@ :up 2,031,294v

' EGG 'BREAKING AND-'SEMRA'TIHG mcnm Filed Haye, 1930 11 sheets-she1ey2 Findlay' 2', 195o `11 sheets-sheet s lFzeh. 18, 1936,l w. G. YouNG 'Er Al.

BGG BREAKING `AND 'SEEPARATING ACI-HNE Feb, 18, 1936.

W. G. YOUNG El' AL EGG BREAKING AND SEPARATING MACHINE Fiied Nay 2, 1930 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 1s, 1936.`

w. G. YOUNG r-:r-AL v EGG BREAKING AND SEPARATING MCl-'IINE Filed Mayz. 1930 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fgb. 1s, 1936.

' w. GA. YouN-G 1-:r Al; `EGG 4BREAKING AND 'SEPARATING MACHINE AFiled hay 2, 195o 11 sheets-Sheet 7 Feb. 13, 1936.. w. G. YOUNG v.fr AL 2,031,294 A EGG BREAKING AND SEPARATING MACHINE Filed'uay 2, 1930 11 sheets-sheet l8v fie 10 R mmm i-IIIIIIIIIIH;

oFeb, 1s, 1936. w. G. YOUNG EN.. 2,031,294

EGG BREAKING AND SEPARATING MACHINE Fiid May 2. 1930 11 sheets-.sheet 9 Feb# 18, 1936- w. G. YOUNG ET M A 2,031,294

EGG BREAKING AND SEPARATING MACINE Filed May 2, 195o 11 sheets-sheet 1o 9 ."L.. A1Q 9l 98 104 Feb- 18 1936. w. GQYOLJNcs'"Er/lu.r y 2,031,294

EGG BREAKINGAND SEPARATING MACHINE Filed Maly 2, 1930 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 Patented Feb. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT lOFFICE:

2,031,294 EGG BREAKING AND SEPRATING MACHINE William G. Young and 4Morton Hansen,

and Joseph F. Pollon, Glendale,

geles,

Los An- Calif.;

said Pollon assigner to said Young and said Hansen lApplication May 2, 1930, Serial No. 449,240 32 claims. '(01. 14e-2) the breaking mechanism, and separation of the whites and yolks.

Another important object is to provide a feeding mechanism for the egg that will effect turning of the egg into proper positionso'that the breaking elements will extend transversely of the egg shell.

15 `up of the eggs from the end of a feed chute and lifting theeggs, one at a time, onto an egg separating arm along which the eggs are rolled by the lifting arm.

yolks and whites come in contact may-be readily detached and cleansed.

Another important object vis to effect pulling apart of the halves of a broken egg shell by the cracking elements so as to facilitate the contents of the shell flowing out of said shell.

Other objects and advantages will yappear in the subjoined detailed description.

In the drawings:

Figure l isa front elevation of an yegg breaking and separating machine' constructed in accordan'ce with the provisions of this invention, the various moving parts being shown in solid lines in the positions they occupy at the moment that the cracking elements penetrate the egg. Dotted lines indicate parts of the cracking mechanism in the positions they occupy after the cracking eiements have opened the egg shell.

49 Y Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1. A

` a feed chute is also shown. s

` Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line indicated by 3 3, Fig. l, a fragment of the feed chute being shown insection. The feed mechanism is shown in two different positions in solid and broken lines. i

Fig. 4 is an elevation, partly in section, approximately from the line indicated by- 4 4, Fig. 3,- only the cracking mechanism, the gate 'and the frame being shown.

Fig. 5 is an elevation approximately from' the line indicated by 5-5, Fig. 3, the main drive shaft being shown in section.l Only the mechanisms for ejecting the egg shell and tiltingthe egg separat;-` 5 5 ing elements are 'shown in this view. Two posi-i fragment oi Another important object' to eifect picking Another important object is to provide a construction of which the parts with which the egg A tions of the egg ejecting arms are illustrated in solid and broken lines.

Fig. 6 is an elevation from the lineindicated by 6 6, Fig. 3, showing only the egg feeding mechanism and the main drive, the motor being fragmentarily shown. The frame is indicated in broken lines and the egg supporting arm is shown in section.'

Fig. l is a fragmental elevation, partly in section, from the irregular line indicated by 1-l, Fig. 3. The clutch and the mechanism for effect- 'ing raising of the upper 'cup section are above illustrated.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmental horizontal view, partly in section, on the line indicated by 8 8, Fig.l 7, showing details of the clutch operating device. v

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmental horizontal section on the line indicated by 9 9, Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmental section on the line indicated by lil-I0, Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmental horizontal section on the line indicated by H-I I, Fig. l, illustrating particularly the construction for removably mounting the discharge chute.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmental verticaisection on the line indicated by I2-|2, Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged inverted plan view from the line indicated by I3l3, Fig. 3, illustrating particularly the mounting for the egg separating cup and the latch that removablyv secures it.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmental detail of 8.,

lportion of the egg cracking mechanism;v the viewv -of the parts being similar to the illustration of said parts in Fig. 4, excepting thatthe movable parts are in a different position.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmental detail, sim- `ilar to Fig. 14. excepting that the movable parts are in a still dierent position than shown in either Figs. 4 or 14.

Fig. 16 is an approximately horizontal sectionon the line indicated by lli-I6, Fig. 14.

Fig. 17 is an approximately vertical section on the line indicated by I1I'|, Fig. 14.

Fig. 18 is a fragmental sectional view on the line indicated by |8l8, Fig.' 14.

' Fig. 19 is an enlarged detail, partly in section, l

oi? the construction whereby one of the cracking elements is. detachably mounted on' its actuating i Referring tothe drawings and taking the various mechanisms vin the order -in which they operate on the eggs, vwhich mechanisms are indicated in general as follows: The egg feeding mechanism is indicated -at A, the egg cracking mechanism is indicated at B, the egg shelll ejecting mechanism is indicated'at C, and the egg separating mechanism is indicated at D.

The eggs that are to be operated on may be placed in a suitable receptacle as, for example, in a feed chute 25, only a fragment of which is shown in the drawings. The bottom of the chute 25, at its discharge end, is provided with a semicircular opening 25 and projecting upwardly through said opening are a number` of upwardly spaced curved fingers 21, 25 which are clamped at 29 to a bracket 30 that' issuitably secured to the base 3| of the machine. The'ngers 25 extend upwardly above thhe level of the ngers 21 and the spacing of said fingers is such that eggs rolling onto said fingers will not pass between them.

An egg is indicated at E resting on the fingers 21, and the feeding mechanism A, by which the egg E is fed to the cracking mechanism B, will now be described.

Pivoted at 32 to an arm 33 is an egg lifting member or spoon 34 comprising a curved bottom section 35 and curved side sections 35. 'I'he sections 35, 35 are spaced apart to form slots 31 to permit entrance of the ngers 21 when the member 34 is in the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 3. Thus the -descending member 34 may readily'pass the egg E because when said member contacts with the egg it turns on its pivot 32. 'I'he member 34 is normally held in its extended position, relative to the arm 33,'as shown in solid lines in Fig. 3, by a coil spring 33 which is secured at one end to the member 34 andv at its opposite end tothe arm 33. 'I'he arm 33 is pivotally mounted at 39 on a standard 45 and the arm 33 isactuated by a link 4| which is pivoted at 42 to the arm 33 and at 43 to a slide 44 which works in a vertical guide slot 45 of the standard 45. y

is pivoted at 41 to the, slide 44 and pivoted at 45 to a crank arm 49 on a main drive shaft 50. The drive shaft is mounted in a relatively long bearing 5| carried by -a standard 52 which is bolted or otherwise secured to the base 3|.

The standard 40 is also bolted to the base 3|. The section 35 of the egg lifting member 34 is provided with an orifice 53 to permit to extend therethrough a curved egg support 54 which is secured at its forward end tofthe standard 52. The standards 40, 52 and base 3| together constitute the framev of the machine. 'Ihe rear end of lthe support 54 is adjacent to but spaced somewhat from the upper ends of the fingers 21. .The radius of curvature of the support 54 has for its center the axis of the pivot 39 so that the egg lifting member can readily move from end to end of the support 54 without binding of the sec` tion 35 on said support. The upper surface of the support 54, or at least the rear portion thereof, is preferably roughened or provided with slight projections or teeth. 55, or able means for producing suillcient friction against the egg shell to cause the egg to roll when itis raised into contact with the support 54. Extending along both sides of the support 54 are side walls 54| which function as guides for the eggs so as to maintain the eggs substantially centrally on the support 54. The support 54 and The slide 44 is actuated by a pitman 45 which the walls 54| together constitute, in effect, a

trough, though the walls 54| are spaced somelwhat from the support 54. The walls 54| are secured by a fastening means z'ontal portion ,543 of the standard 40.

any other suit- 'cracking mechanism B 542 to the upper 11011- When the egg reaches a position somewhat forwardly of the middle of the support 54, it is desirable that gravity tends to move the egg to the extreme forward end of the support 54, but to yieldingly resist rolling of the egg forward from its midposition on the support 54, there is provided a retarding arm 55 which is pivoted at 51 to a bracket 55 that is mounted on the standard 52. The arm 55 is yieldingly held aslant downwardly and rearwardly by a spring 53 which is secured at one end to the upper end of the arm 55 and at its other end to the bracket 53. The spring 59 is above the pivot 51 and accordingly resists movement of the lower end of the arm 55 forwardly. The lower end ofthe arm 55 extends to a point that is adjacent to the path of travel of the fee end of the egg lifting member 34 so that when the egg is moved forwardly by the lifting member 34 said egg will engage the retarding arm 55 and thus be held against rolling along the support 54 faster than the movement of theA lifting member 34. The arm 55 yieldingly retardsv the egg until said egg has been moved forwardly by the lifting member 34,'into engagement with the eg F in Fig. 3, that has previously been moved forwardly by the member 34.

Further movement forward of the egg that is lifted and being pushed by the member 34 will thrust the/ against moving rearwardly beyond its vertical position by reason of engaging the front face of the standard 52. 'Ihe gate 55 is suspended in an opening 53 provided in the standard 52 and the egg passes through said opening 53, when pushed'by the egg to the rear of the egg F.

The purpose of the gate 55 is to momentarily stop rolling of the egg in order to insure that the yolk regains its central position in the egg, out of which central position it tends to be thrown by centrifugal action as the egg is quickly rolled along the support 54Ubyl the lifting member 34. It is essential that the yolk not be too close to that part of the shell that the cracking elements enter, as described hereinafter, so that said cracking elements do not break the membrane that holds the fluid yolk substance intact, for, if that occurred, separation of the yolk and white would be impossible.

When the egg it rolls about its in this instance, cave members 54, 55,

passes through the opening 53, short diameter into a rack that, comprises a pair of spaced con--l the members 55 being in front of the member 54 and said vmembers extend transversely of the machine. In this instance the rack members 54, 55 are mounted on a discharge chute which is indicated in general by the character 55 and which will be described in detail hereinafter,

The rack 54, 55 constitutes a part of the egg which will now be described in detail: After the egg comes to rest upon the rack members, a means to yieldingly hold said egg from above comes into action and said means, in this instance, is constructed as follows: An egg contacting member 51 is mounted on the lower end of a plunger 53, said member 51 being provided with vertical flanges 53 having their bottom edges concave,` as indicated at 1li so as to approximately ilt the outer face of the egg shellwith lwhich they come in conslide 1|, being yieldingly held in its lower posi-- tion, relative to the slide, by a coil spring 12 which is positioned between the plunger 68 and .bellcrank lever 8| is also of rectangular cross coil springs 94| the upper end of a spring chamber 13 in which the springis mounted. "The slide 1| works in a vertical guide slot 14 which is provided in the standard 52.

To vertically reciprocate the slide 1 I, said slide is secured to the upper end of a vertical yoke 15 which is provided near its lower end with a follower in the form of a roller 16 that is pushed downwardly by a c am 11 mounted on the shaft Y50. The yoke 15, when released by the cam 11, is retracted by a coilspring 18 which is secured at one end to the yoke 15 and at its other end tothe standard 52, near the upper end of said standard.

the shell on the lower side thereof so as to breakor crack said shell. These cracking elemenis, in thisinstance, are in the form of blades, each provided with a concave cutting edge 80 and, when the blades are in cutting position, they are positioned with their cutting edges lying side by side, from which edges the blades slant downwardly and outwardly. (See Fig. 1.)

The blades 19 are detachably mounted on bellcrank levers 8| which are pivoted at 82 in slides 83 that operate in guide slots 84 provided in the standard 52.

In this instance the construction for detachably mounting the cracking blades on the bellcrank levers 8| is as folows: The construction for each arm is the same. The blade is provided -with a shank 85 of rectangular cross section and the section and provided with a stud 86 adapted to t in a hole 81 in the shank 85. Slidably mounted on the bellcrank lever 8| is a sleeve 86 of square cross section which, when the shank has been assembled with the pin 86 in the hole 81, is slid shown in llig.v 19. This blades to be quickly for cleansing of said construction enables the detached from the arms blades.

The slides 88 are actuated by pitmen 89, the pivots 82 of the bellcrank levers 8| serving, also, to pivotally connect the pitmen 89 to the slides 83. The pitmen 89 `are plvotally connected at 90 to a cross head 9| which operates in a vertical guide slot 92 provided in the standard 52. (See Fig. 14.) l

The cross 93 which, in this instance, roller that is actuated by a head 9| is provided with a follower is in the form` of a cam 94 mounted on the drive shaft 50. Thus the slides 83 are actuated away from one another -in order to open the egg shell after it has been cracked by The roller, 93 is held against the cam 94 by which are secured at one end to the standard 52 and at their other ends to studs 91 that proiect from the pitmen 89. Movement of the slides 83 toward each other is produced by a coil spring 942 which is secured at its op.

posite ends to swung toward egg shell to break the studs 91. The blades 19 are one another to 4contact with the it by coillsprngs 95 which are connected at'oneendtoarmsofthebell- |09 to the section |01.

the blades` crank levers 8|. Other ends of the springs 95 are secured to thel studs 91.

Stops are provided to limit inward swinging of the bellcrank levers 8|. and, in this instance,

said stops are formed byshoulders 98 on the arms l 96 coming into engagement with shoulders 99 on the slides 83, as clearly shown in Fig. 17.

Latching means are provided forholding the bellcrank levers 8| with their blades 19 retracted or, in other words, swung outwardly away from one another, against the tension of the springs 95 and these means are the same for each lever. Accordingly, 'each bellcrank lever 8| is provided with a shoulder adapted to be engaged and held against rotation in one direction by a shoulder |0| on a detent or latching arm |02 which is pivoted at |03 to the standard 52. lCoil springs |04 are provided to yieldingly hold the detents |02 toward the shoulder |00.

To retract the detents |02 out o f latching position, the yoke is provided at opposite sides with shoulders |05 which, upon downward motion of the yoke 15, engage shoulders |06 on the detent arms |02, thusto swing said arms downwardly against the tension of the springs |04, thereby releasing the bellcrank levers 8| and permitting said bellcrank levers to be swung inwardly by their actuating springs 95.

When vthe latching arms |02 release the shoulders |00, the slides 83 yare free to be drawn toward each other by reason of the contraction of the spring 942. However, before the slides` so that upon inward movement of the slides 83 shoulders |8| on the latching arms |02 engage shoulders |82 on the lever arms 96, thus causing the said lever arms 96 to turn in a direction that causes the blades 19 to be swung away from one another. Thus, at this timeA in the cycle of the machine, there is a compound movement of the bellcrank levers 8|, since said levers are bodily moved toward one another and, at the After the shell of the egg has been cracked and opened up by movement of the blades away from one another, the contents of the shell flow therefrom into the discharge chute 66 which comprises an upper 'stationary .section |61 and a lower pivoted section |08 that is pivoted at the chute section v|08 will appear hereinafter. The contents of the shell flow from the chute 66 same time, are swung outwardly on their pivots The purpose of pivotingv into the egg separating mechanism D which will now be described: The whites and yolks of the eggs-discharge from the lower end of the chute 66 into a cup which comprises an'upper or rim section ||0 and a bottom section The cup is tiltably mounted and, accordingly, is supported on an angular arm ||2 secured to a hollow rock shaft ||3 that turns in a bearing ||4 carried bythe 'standard 52. The rear end or the rock shaft ||3 is pro 'ded with a crank arm I5 which is actuated by a reciprocably mounted member |6 that, in this instance, is in the form of a yoke.

The yoke ||6 reciprocates vertically in guides ||1 on the standard 52. A positive means is provided for actuatingv the yoke |6 in opposite directions and, accordingly, in this instance, the 4yoke l| 6 is provided on its opposite sides with shoulders H8, Il) adptedto be enedby I0 against shoulders |20, 2|, respectively, which project from opposite faces of the cam 94.

Thus the shoulder |20 engages the shoulder ||8 to move the yoke on its downstroke and the shoulder |2| engages the shoulder ||0 to actuate the yoke on its upstroke.

The upper section 0 of the cup is movably mounted so that it can move away from the lower section to thereby permit the white of the egg to discharge over the rim of the cupvsection In this instance, the cup section 0 is reciprocably mounted on the lower cup section hollow studs |22 projecting downwardly from bosses |23 on the section 0 into guides |24 that project from opposite sides of the section Within the hollow studs |22 are coil springs |25 which are connected at their upper ends to the section ||0 and at their lower ends to the guides |24 so as to yieldingly hold the upper section ||0 upon the lower section A means is provided for raising the cup section the retractive tension of the lsprings |25 and this means is constructed, in this instance, as follows: 'I'he upper section ||0 is provided at OPDOSite sides, midway between the bosses |23, with shoulders |26, and adapted to engage beneath said shoulders is a fork |21. 'I'he fork |21 is provided with a downwardly projecting arm |28 which is pivoted at |29 on the arm ||2 that is provided with an opening |30 through which the arm |28 projects.

The arm |28 is actuated to raise the outer ends of the fork |21 by a longitudinally shiftable member |3| which, in this instance, is in the form of a rod that extends through' the hollow shaft ||3 and that slides in bearings |32 provided in the rod |3| to the right vin Fig. 3 shoulder. |33 on said shaft inner end of the adjacent member |3| is movedto the right by a coil spring |34 that surrounds the shaft |3| between the shoulder |33 and that bearing |32 which is most remote from the shoulder |33.

To push the member |3| to the left against the expansive force of the spring |34, there is provided a lever |35 that is pivoted at |35 to a bracket |31 that is supported by the standard 52 and that constitutes a portion of the frame of the machine. 'Ihe lever |35 is positioned vertically and the lower end thereof engages one end of the member 3| while the upper end thereof is actuated by a cam face |38 which constitutes a portion of one face of the cam member 94. Preferably the upper end of the lever |35 is provided with a roller |39 for rolling on the cam face |38. `The lower cup section preferably, is detachably mounted on the arm ||2 so that the cup can be quickly removed when it is desired to cleanse it. Accordingly, the arm |2 is provided in its outer end with a vertically extending square hole |40 into and through which projects a stud |4| of square cross section, said stud |4| projecting downwardly from the bottom of is restricted by a. contacting withfthe bearing |32, and` the For detachablysecuring the stud |4| in the hole or socket |40, there is provided a latch |42 which is pivoted at |43 to the underface of the arm ||2 so as to operate horizontally when the arm ||2 is in the upright position shown inFig. 3. The latch |42, when closed, engages in anotch |44 provided in one side of the stud 4|. Thus, to remove the cup from the arm H2, the latch 42 will be pushed to one side ,and then the cup raised to withdraw the stud |4| from the socket.

the cup section yrest directly upon the upper face of the arm ||2,

it is preferable to interpose between the cup section and the arm ||2 an inverted cup shaped ard |45 that is 'provided in one side with a. notch |45 to permit of projection therethrough of the arm ||2. 'I'he guard or cover |45 can thus be readily lifted on', after the cup has been removed, so that said guard, also, can be cleansed, for it will be readily understood that when the whites of the eggs discharge over the rim of the cup section some 'of the whites will come in contact with the guard |4 whereas if the guard were not provided, the whites would come in contact with the arm H2. y

Contacting of the` egg whites with the arm would not be objectionable if the broken eggs were fresh, but. since stale eggs also pass through the machine, it is essential that those parts of the machine contacted by the white of a stale egg be cleansed ,so as not to contaminate the whites of fresh eggs that follow the stale egg through the machine. be provided a number of cups ||0, and guards |45 and, also, chutes 68 so that these parts can be readily cleansed in the event of their being contacted by stale eggs.

As suggested above, it is advisable that several discharge chutes be furnished with each machine and, accordingly, the chutes 66 will preferably be 'detachably mounted on the standard 52. In this instance, this is provided for by providing the chute 66 with a pair of laterally projecting ears |41 which engage in slots |48 that are formed between the lugs |49 andthe front face of the standard 52, said lugs |43 being secured to said front face. The slots |48 open upwardly, thus enabling the chute to be removed by raising it.

It is desirable that the discharge end of the chute B5 overhangs the cup section ||0 and be positioned quite close to said rcup section and that is Athe reason forr pivoting the chute section |08 to the section |01, since when the upper cup section is actuated upwardly it strikes the under face of the lower chute section |08 and swings said lower chute section upwardly. As the upper cup section descends, the chute section |08 is lowered by gravity.

'I'he vertical motion of the yoke ||6 is also utilized for actuating the shell ejecting mechanism which will now be described. Rotatably mounted in a bearing |50, in the upper end of the standard 52, is a rock shaft |5| that, in this instance, passes through a vertical slot |52 in the upper portion of the yoke |6. The shaft |5| is provided on opposite sides of the yoke ||6 with shoulders |53, |54 to act as further guides for said yoke H6. The shaft |5| is provided with a crank arm |55 which defines the shoulder |53 and which has a stud |55 that works in a horizontal slot |51 in the yoke H0, near the upper end of said yoke. Thus vertical reciprocatory movement of the yoke |6 effects swinging of the crank arm |55 so as to rock the shaft |5|. 'I'he shaft 5| is provided with an arm |58 which-swings in front of the standard 52, the outer end of said arm |58 being provided with a shell ejecting head |59 which, in this instance, is preferably concave on the face that contacts with the egg shell.

Thus, after the shell has been cracked and the halves thereof pulled apart by the blades, the ejector head |59 will be propelled from the outer position, shown in Fig. l, to its inner position, shown in broken lines in Fig. 5, thereby causing the head |59 to strike the egg shell, thereby pro 75,

' operation of the motor 'peiling said shelllaterally from the machine into a shell discharge chute |60 which, in this instance, is supported by a bracket. |6| secured by a clamping screw |62 to the base. k. l

The shaft 50, in this instance, is driven by a wormwheel |63 that meshes with a worm |64 mounted on a shaft |65 of an electric motor |66. 'I'he motor |66, in this instance, is mounted on one end of the base,3|. wormwheel |63 does not drive the shaft 50 direct, but, rather, through a clutch, one member of which is indicated at |61 and the other at |66. Accordingly, the wormwheel|63 is loose on `the shaft 50. 'I'he clutch member `|66 has a jaw |66 that is in sliding contact with a jaw |10 xed to the shaft 50, the jaws |66, |10serving the purpose of splining the clutch member |66 to the shaft, thus causing said clutch member |66 torotate with the shaft but permitting it to be shifted into and out of engagement with the clutch member 161. The clutch member |66 is operated by the usual shifting fork |1| which, in this instance,.is pivnlly mounted by the pivot |36 on thebracket The shifting fork is actuated by a bell crank lever |12 which is pivoted at |13 on a pivot support |14 that is mounted o'n the base 3|, the fork |1| having a cylindrical lower end portion |16.

which projects through a hole i |16 in the bell crank lever |12. Pivotally connected at |11 to the bell crank lever is an operating rod |16 that is shiftably mounted in a bearing |16 secured to the standard 62. The outer end of the rod |16 is provided with a knob |60.

The foregoing will make clear the construction and operation of the invention and, briefly stated, the operation is as follows: l

Assuming. that at the begirming of the cycle, the spoon 34 isinthe position indicated in broken lines in Fig. 3'and that the blades 16 are in the positions indicated in broken lines in Fig. l, the will cause the spoon 34 to swing downwardly until said spoon is beneath the egg- E. pivoting. meanwhile, so as to pass said egg. After the spoon reaches a position beneath the egg E, continued operation of the motor causes the spoon to rise, thus picking up the egg E and carryingsaid egg ofnto the support 64j and rolling said egg 'along said support. The idea of rolling the egg is to cause advancement oi' said egg toward the cracking mechanism with the long axis of the egg extending transversely of thesupport 6 4, so that the egg will discharge sideways into the rack 64. 66. as shown at G in Fig. 3.

When the egg has reached the arm 66,- it moves v said arm to the leftl in Fig; 3 .against the tension A the egg is held against of the spring 66 and thus .the spoon 34. as the egg begins to travel down the forwardly sloping portion of the support 64. As soon as .the egg reaches the gate 60,- said gate willr temporarily obstruct further movement of the egg until the machine is operated to again move the spoon 34' into .position to pick up another egg frbm the chute 26 and to carry the seca, ond-egg into positionxto engage the first g. As the spoon 34 moves forwardly with the second egg. said second egg presses the first ess Past the gate 60, which swings upwardly to permit the. rst 'egg to discharge onto the rack, the -gate then closing and thus holding back the second egg. As soon as the ilrst egg has been deposited on `the rack, the egg contacting' or clamping member 61 will be caused to descend from its upper position to the lower-.position shown in Fig. 3, thus yieldingly holding the egg In this instance, the

downwardly .on the track.

It will be seen that the clamping member 61 is lself-adjusting to different sizes of eggs.

'As soon as this `has come to pass, the detent arms |02 will be actuated by the shoulders |06 into position to release the bell crank levers 6| which, accordingly,l will be swung inwardly by the springs 66 to the solid line position shown in- Fig. l, causing the blades 19 to cut, crack or break the shell `of the egg on the rack.

Further operation of the'machine then causes movement of the slides 83 away from each other, thus drawing the blades 16 apart, as indicated in' broken lines have penetrated the egg shell, this movement pulls the two egg shell/portions away from each other, thus permitting the lcontents of the shell to discharge therefrominto the. cup H0, The broken apart portions ofthe egg shell are indicated at H in Fig. 1.

The timing of the oper tion of the various mechanisms is'preferably such that after the egg yolk and white are deposited in the cup, the cup will remain stationary for an interval of time to permit the operator to smell of the egg in the cup. If the egg should be'stale, the operator immediately throws out the clutch so as to stop the machine and the operator then detaches the cup and the guard |46 and may if desirable, also detach the chute 66. In case such parts are detached for cleansing, other like parts will be immediately substituted and then the machine will again be put into operation.

Assuming that the contents of the cu'p |10, .4 |'|I pass the smelling test, further operation of the machine then lifts the upper cup section H0,v thereby permitting the white of over the rim of the lower cup sectionvl into any suitable container that is placed to receive it. The upper cup section then automatically descends, cutting on yolk which remains in the lower cup section.

As soonv as the cup section ||0 has closed onto the section further operation of the machine will cause the entire cup to be tilted, thus discharging therefrom tainer or chute placed to receive` said yolk and not illustrated in the drawings.

Coincidentally with tilting of the cup, the shell electing head |66 is caused to swing against the broken egg shell so as to ally from the machine into the chute |60.

Shortlyv after the slides 63 have been moved outwardly to pull apart the cracked egg shell, as previously described, the latch arms |02 are released so that their shoulders |6| lie in the paths of movement of the shoulders |62. The slides 66`are now shifted toward one another, thereby bringing the shoulders I6|, |62 vin contact, thus causing rotation of the bell crank levers 6|, these parts then occupying the positions shown inv Fig. 15, and, thus, the blades 16 are ready for crack= ing another egg. I

After the egg shell has been cracked and before it is struck by the eiectorhead |66, the slide 1| is moved upwardly, thus relieving the egg shell from the pressure of the clamping member 61.

After the cup has been tilted, it is turned into upright-position again ready to receive the white and yolk of another egg.

The cycle of operations above described will then be repeated as long as the machine is kept in operation. In many instances it is not desired to separate the whites and yolks. of the, eggs, after their shells have been cracked and the contents allowed to run therefrom and, ,in such cases,

the white of the egg from the the yolk into a suitable conpropel said shell later- A in Fig. 1, and, since said blades i the egg to runthe separating cup lill, III will be removed so that the whites and yolks discharge together from the chute receive them.

It is to be noted that the rim of the lower cup section lli is outwardly and downwardly beveled, as indicated at |83, and that the lower end of the upper section H0 is of somewhat larger inside diameter than the inside diameter of the rim of the lower cup section Il I. This construction insures against rupturing the sack or membrane that holds the yolk.

It is to be noted that, when the egg is picked oil' of the fingers 21 by the spoon Il, any other eggs that may tend to be crowded onto the spoon from the opposite sides thereof will be prevented from so doing by reason of the lingers 2l engaglng and holding said other eggs back while the spoon moves away from said fingers.

In practice, the eggs customarily spin about their short axes whenthey are deposited upon the members I4, and it is to stop the spinning of the eggs that the arm I8 is particularly provided., The arm i0, being positioned in a vertical plane'that passes through the center of the spoon,

succeeding egg pushes it oil' of the rack.

ere, in the claims, we have specified la rack, it is to be 4understood that we limit ourselves to the use egg rests freely such as vacu We claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, a rack to support an eg a means operating to crack the shell of the egg while supported on the rack and to then force the portions on opposite sides of the crack away contentsto flow from the shell, and a means independent of said rack to positively eject the egg shell from the rack after the contents have flowed therefrom.

2. In an automatic egg breaking machine oi' class described, a stationary rack to support and to then open out the portions on opposite sides oi' the crack to permit the contents to flow from the shell.

3. In an automatic egg breaking machine of the class described, a stationary rack to support an egg, means to feed an egg to said rack, a clamping means operating against one side of 66 into a suitable container. placed to l from each other to permit the '.to the rack,

the egg to hold it against the rack, and a cracking means independent of said rack operating against the opposite side of the egg shell.

h4. In an automatic egg breaking machine of the class described, a stationary rack to support an egg, means to feed an release the egg, a means to move the blades up` wardly between the rack members to adjacentA the holding means is engaged with the egg, and a means to eject the egg shell laterally from the rack memberswhen the holding means releases said shell. 6. In a machine of the class described, shiftably mounted slides, arms pivotally mounted on the slides, cracking'members carried by the arms, a means to shift the slides toward and from each other, a means to swing the arms toward and from each other, and a means to hold an egg in position to be struck by the cracking members.

7. In a machine of the class described, an arm for an egg to roll on, a spoon provided with an orice'lto receive the arm, and a means to reciprocate the spoon along the arm.

l8. In a machine of the class described, spaced members to support an egg, an arm for the egg to roll on terminating adjacent to said members, a spoon provided with an oriiice to receive the arm, and a means to reciprocate the spoon to carry an egg from the spaced members onto the arm.

.9. In a machine of the class described, spaced members to support an egg. an arm for the egg to roll on terminating adjacent to said members, 'a movable mounted arm, a spoon pivoted to the movably mounted arm and dimensioned to pass between said spaced members provided with an orifice to receive the arm, a spring yieldingly holding the spoon against swinging upwardly relative to the movably mounted arm, and a means to oscillate the movably mounted arm be- `tween a position below the spaced members and a position along the first mentioned arm.

10. rIn a machine oi' the class described, spaced members to support an egg. an arm i'or'the egg to roll on terminating adjacent to said members, a movably mounted arm, a spoon pivoted to the movably mounted arm and dimensioned to pass between said spaced members and provided with an oriiice to receive the arm, and a means to oscillate the movably mounted position below the spaced members and a position along the rst mentioned arm.

11. In a machine of the class described, a rack to support an ess', an arm extending to the rack,

l2. In a machine of the class described, a rack to support an eg an arm extending to the rack, a movably mounted gate above the arm adjacent a spring to yieldingly hold the gate against movement toward the rack, a means to move an egg along the arm to the gate, and a means to break the egg on the rack.

13. In a machine of the class described, a rack to support an egg, an arm extending to the rack,

a movably mounted gate above the arm adjacent 4to support an egg, a member mounted to reciprocate vertically above the rack, a plunger mounted in said member, a means yieldlngly pressing the plunger downwardly to engage the egg on the rack, a means to strike the under side of the shell-of the egg on the rack to crack said shell, and a means to reciprocate said member and to operate the striking means in timed relation.

15. In a machine of the class described, a means to crack and open the shell of an egg, a tiltably mounted cup for receiving the contents of the shell, a means to tilt thecup, said cup including a bottom section and a rim section movably mounted relative to the bottom section, a means to move the rim section away from the bottom section, and a means to operate all of said other mentioned means in timed relation.

i6. In a machine of the class described, a means to crack and open the shell of an egg, a tiltably mounted cup for receiving the contents of the shell, a means to tilt the cup, said cup including a bottom section and including a rim section mounted for up and down movement relative to the bottom section, a means to raise the rim section, and a means to operate all of said other mentioned means'in timed relation.

17. In a machine of the class described, a means to crack and open the shell of an egg, a tiltably mounted cup for receiving the contents of the shell, a means to tilt the cup, said cup inl cluding a bottom section and-including a rim section mounted for up and down movement relative to the bottom section, a fmeans to raise the rim section, a means to operate all of said other mentioned means in timed relation, and a chute section pivoted to swing vertically and positioned with its discharge end in the path vof movement of the upper cup section when said, upper cup section is rising.

18. In a machine of the class described, a means operable to grip and then release an egg, egg shell penetrating members, a means operating while the egg is held by the gripping means to first force said members through the egg shell and to then move said members apart to open said shell, a member movabl-y mounted in ppsition to strike the shell, and a means operating in timed relation with the gripping means to move said member into engagement with th'e shell after the egg is released bysaid gripping means. v

19. In a machine'of the type described, a pair of stationary,v parallel, spaced-apart, egg supporting rack members, meansto hold an egg downwardly on said rack members, and means to crack the underside of said egg while supported on said rack members, said rack members being curved upwardly. at each end whereby said egg is automatically centered ,thereon beneath said holding means.

20. In a machine of the type described, a pair of stationary,A parallel, spaced-apart, egg supporting `rack members, means to hold an egg downwardly on said rack members, said rack members being curved upwardly at each end whereby said egg is automatically centered thereon beneath said holding means, a pair of blades, means for moving said blades upwardly between said rack members into adjacent positions to penetrate the under side ol.' an egg held on said rack by said holding means, and for thereafter moving said blades laterally apart in paths approximately parallel to said rack members, whereby the shell of said egg is brpken at the middle of its under side and the two halves separated, Ithe upper edges of said halves remaining adjacent each other below said holding means and the lower edges being supported by and sliding along said curved supporting members.

2l.j In a machine pf the class described, a rack comprisingtwo parallel supporting members for supporting an egg, a means operating to crack the shell of the egg while supported on the rack .Y and to then force the portions of shell on opposite 1 sides of the crack away from each other to permit the contents to flow from the shell, and means movable in a path substantially parallel to said supporting members to slide the egg shell along said members and eject it from the end thereof.

22. A machine as described in claim 20 further characterized in that it comprises means for dropping said knives away from said half shells after their opening movement whereby said half shells are supported solely by said stationary rack members and drainage of the egg contents from said shell is not impeded by said knives.

231. In a machine of the type described, a pair of parallel stationary rack members spaced apart to support an egg, means. for feeding an egg to said rack, breaking and opening means, and means for moving said breaking means upwardly between said rack members to break the shell of said egg, then outwardly substantially parallel to said parallel rack members to open said shell, and thereafter away from said rack, whereby said opened egg shell is left solely supported by said rack to facilitate drainage of the contents therefrom.

24. In a machine of the/class described, a single means for breaking and opening an egg, separate means for supporting said egg during the breaking and opening thereof, separate means for successively feeding eggs to said supporting means, and means for operating said feeding and breaking means in timed relation.

25. In a machine of the type described, a sta.-

to the rack, means to move an egg along the arm to the rack, means to break the egg on the rack:

and means to operate said moving and breaking means in timed relation.

26. In a machine of the class described, an arm for an egg'to roll on, said arm having a laterally iiat upper' surface whereby it contacts with an egg positioned thereon at only one point, a spoon for rolling an egg along said arm, and means to move said spoon in' a path immediately above and parallel to said arm.

27. In a machine of the class described, means for supporting an egg, an arm for the vegg to roll on terminating adjacent to said means, a spoon for rolling an egg from said means onto and. along said arm, and rmeans to movethe spoonto carry an egg from said means onto/and along said arm.

28. 4In a machine of the type described, a stationary rack ofl open construction to support an egg, means for feeding eggs to said rackmeans i able across and above to open an egg on said rack to permit the contents to drain through the rack, an ejector plate movejecting the egg Shell operating said feeding;

therefrom, and means for opening and ejecting means in timed relation.

29. In a machine of the type described, the combination of means for successively delivering eggs to a fixed point, other means for successively breaking eggs at said fixed point, other means for successively removing broken egg shells from said xed point, and means for operating said delivering, opening and shell removing means in timed relation.

30. A machine of the class described having, in

combination, a pair of spaced apart and independently mounted arm-supporting members, arms plvotally mounted on said arm-lsupporting members, cracking members-carried by said arms, automatic means for simultaneously moving said arm-supporting members toward each other, means thereafter for swinging said armstoward and from each other, and means supported independently oi.' the arm-supporting members for holding an egg in position to be struck by said cracking mem rs.

31. A machine of the class described having, in

said rack for positivelyik combination, a pair of spaced apart and indebers as they swing together whereby ensuing separating movement oi said supporting members separates said cracking members while the latter are engaged with the egg shell, to open the shell.

32. Apparatus as described in claim 31, with means for swinging said arms in reverse direction to disengage said cracking members from an egg shell following opening of the shell.

WILLIAM G. YOUNG. A MORTON HANSEN. JOSEPH F. POLLON.

said arm-supporting l 

